US and UAE sign space exploration agreement

The United States and United Arab Emirates have teamed up to cooperate on aeronautics research and the exploration and use of airspace and outer space for peaceful purposes.

U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Charles Bolden and UAE Space Agency Chairman Khalifa Al Romaithi formalized and signed the agreement Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

"NASA is leading an ambitious journey to Mars that includes partnerships with the private sector and many international partners," Bolden said. "I am confident this new framework agreement with the UAE Space Agency will help advance this journey as well as other endeavors in the peaceful exploration of outer space. Already, technical experts from our two countries are engaged in discussions on several areas of mutual interest, and I believe our two agencies will collaborate for years to come through a common interest in aeronautics, exploration and discovery."

The agreement covers cooperation and collaboration in space science and exploration, earth observation and earth science, safety and many other areas of benefit to both nations. The two countries will continue to identify additional areas of mutual interest for possible future cooperative programs.

"The United Arab Emirates and the United States of America are long-standing allies and have deep economic, cultural and diplomatic ties," Al Romaithi said. "We at the UAE Space Agency genuinely welcome the opportunity to collaborate and work with the USA and NASA in the fields of aeronautics, space science and the peaceful exploration of outer space toward the common goal of fostering the well-being of humankind."

"Since its founding, the UAE Space Agency has been emphasizing the importance of cooperating and collaborating with international partners in the fields of space science and the peaceful exploration of outer space," Al Romaithi said. "This agreement opens the door to the creation of a wide range of mutually beneficial programs and activities involving numerous organizations within the UAE and the USA." 

"The reason why cooperation and collaboration are important to the UAESA is because we believe that working alongside international partners is the best way to accelerate the development of space technologies and the space sector within the UAE," Al Romaithi said.

NASA and the UAE Space Agency also formalized cooperation in the exploration of Mars as the first collaborative effort between the agencies.